Leading Super Cup rookie Lauren Butler to make first Salem start

Editor’s Note: An earlier item referring to the Super Cup as a dirt track race was incorrect.
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania’s Lauren Butler is already a feature winner at Jennerstown Speedway. The busy mother of two young boys also won the Jennerstown Street Stock track championship in 2017. She’s also headed toward Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery to compete in the inaugural Super Cup 100 Saturday night, July 27. Safe to say that her impending Salem adventure has her full attention.
“I’m a little nervous, but I try not to let fear conquer me,” said the 31-year-old racer.
“I expect it to be challenging but I’m definitely looking forward to it. I do a lot of watching and observing, and I feel like I’m a quick learner. I’ve never really had the opportunity to race on a track with this much banking, and it’s probably the fastest track I’ve ever been to, but I’m up for the opportunity and the challenge. What’s life without a challenge? This is what makes it worth living. It’s all about growing and learning, and I’m excited to show off the skills I do have.”
Butler is currently fifth in overall championship standings, just three points away from fourth. She also comes to Salem on the strength of back-to-back runner-up finishes in Super Cup competition at Jennerstown.
If Salem is all new, racing certainly is not. Butler has been at it for nearly 20 years, starting in the go-kart ranks at 11 years old before moving onto the Allison Legacy Series. From there she jumped into the late model ranks where she got off to a rough start.
“I jumped up to the late model in 2006 but I totaled it my first time out. We got out my dad’s old street stock and I’ve been there ever since.”
In addition to her championship at Jennerstown, she’s earned 15 career street stock victories between Jennerstown and Motordrome Speedway. This year marks her first full season in Super Cup.
“We debuted in Super Cup in 2018...did six races last year. This is my first full season in and it’s going very well. Seeing all these tracks for the first time has been quite an experience. I’ve never gotten the opportunity to do the traveling. We treat it like a mini-vacation. The tracks are amazing. Seeing new places and meeting new faces, it’s been very rewarding. We’re doing our best to put on the best show we can when the time comes.”
Butler races for her family team, preparing cars out of the family-owned business and race shop, Edlin Automotive Services. Her racing ventures are very much a family affair.
“My dad, Eddie Butler, is my crew chief. My mom, Linda Lea Butler, handles all the logistics and paperwork.”
Her boyfriend Dustin Gursky also helps on the crew when he’s not back home racing himself. Herb Hilliard spots for Butler. Justin Guy is also a key component to her crew.
“Without them and our sponsors, none of this would be possible.”
Her sponsors include Edlin Automotive Services, Roof Repair Experts, Night and Day Sealcoating, Hillsview Landscaping, Ligonier Trucking, Pink Zebra, Motive Parts of Homestead, Cornwell Tools and 3C Signs.
When Butler isn’t racing, she works full-time at West Penn Hospital in the central processing department, assembling and sterilizing surgical trays. Somehow, she also finds time to attend school full-time, studying surgical technology, the next logical step in her career path.
Also on the card at Salem are the popular Great American Stocks, a Cruise-In Street Rod and Classic Car Show.
Spectator gates open at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with practice getting underway 4, qualifying follows at 6:15, with the first race scheduled to roll out at 7:15.
Advance general admission tickets, $15 for adults and $3 for children 7-12, are on sale now at salemspeedway.com or by calling 812-883-6504 or 888-246-7223.